One such moment occurred in Belgium and remains one of the most unusual political gaffes involving a national anthem.

In 2007, Yves Leterme , then Belgium’s prime minister-designate, was asked during an interview to sing the Belgian national anthem, La Brabançonne. Instead, he sang La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France.

The moment was broadcast publicly and quickly spread across international media. What might have been a minor slip became a symbol of deeper political tensions within Belgium.

Why the mistake struck a nerve

Belgium is a country with long-standing linguistic and cultural divisions, primarily between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. The national anthem itself exists in three official languages and represents a fragile sense of national cohesion.

Singing France ’s anthem, even unintentionally, was seen by some as symbolic rather than merely accidental.

The reaction was swift. Belgian media debated the meaning of the incident, while opposition figures questioned Leterme’s suitability for leadership. Supporters argued it was a human error blown out of proportion.

Leterme later acknowledged the mistake and attempted to downplay it, reportedly joking that it proved how well Belgians know their neighbours. However, the episode remained attached to his political image for years.

In a statement released on Tuesday, January 27, Minister Ablakwa confirmed that the Ministry had approved the passport after establishing what he described as the influencer’s “irrefutable ties” to the country. 

The Minister noted that this move reflects Ghana’s openness to the "global African family" and honours those who project the nation positively on the world stage. 

Ablakwa described iShowSpeed as a “worthy ambassador” whose impact resonates beyond mere entertainment .  This follows a series of cultural immersions by the streamer, including a traditional naming ceremony at Akropong, in eastern Ghana, where he was given the name Barima Kofi Akuffo.

During his visit, iShowSpeed toured historic landmarks such as the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and the Black Star Square. 

The announcement has divided public opinion.

While the streamer’s visit was hailed and some have defended the Ministry’s decision others have described the government's actions as unserious questioning the sanctity and value of the Ghanaian passport versus the government's strategy of using celebrity influencers to boost the country's global image, a thing that has happened in the past where world-famous people have been awarded citizenship.

In 2024, under the previous Ghanaian government, legendary American singer Stevie Wonder was awarded a citizenship in a high-profile ceremony.

During his stream in Ghana, iShowSpeed mentioned plans of returning to Africa and hinted at purchasing a property on the continent. 

With him being awarded a Ghanaian passport and saying live on stream that his mother originated from the West African nation, he could be making Ghana his second home.

Washington’s departure follows a formal notification of intent submitted by President Donald Trump one year earlier, as required under U.S. law. The move makes the U.S. the first country in WHO history to withdraw its membership.

The Trump administration justified the exit by citing disagreements with the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusations of political bias, and dissatisfaction with pandemic policies.

Senior U.S. officials argued the country would continue to engage in global health through bilateral agreements and existing partnerships outside WHO structures.

"The Trump Admin is working to make sure that we have those bilateral agreements in place for that kind of health cooperation — but we don't need the WHO as an intermediary essentially to push Chinese interests on the American people," National Institutes of Health's Director Jay Bhattacharya told Fox News.

That rationale echoes what Argentinian President Javier Milei has stated in his decision to also withdraw Argentina from the WHO , a move scheduled to take effect on March 17, 2026.

The Milei government has framed its exit as a defence of national sovereignty and a response to what it describes as “deep differences” with WHO policies, especially concerning the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Argentina’s annual financial contributions to WHO have been comparatively small , and Buenos Aires has claimed that its withdrawal will not disrupt domestic health services.

Critics, however, warn that leaving a global coordination platform could limit access to information sharing, vaccine procurement mechanisms and technical cooperation that support responses to outbreaks and endemic diseases.

Why WHO matters

The World Health Organisation is the specialised health agency of the United Nations. Its core mission includes:

Nearly all United Nations member states have traditionally been members of the WHO. As of early 2026, with the U.S. exit complete, the organisation retains 193 members, the vast majority of the world’s nations.

According to official results from Portugal’s Ministry of Internal Administration, only António José Seguro of the Socialist Party and André Ventura, leader of the right-wing Chega party, finished first or second in every region of the country, locking in their places in the runoff.

Seguro, the centre-left Socialist candidate aligned with the S&D group in Europe, finished first overall with 31% of the national vote , leading in almost every municipality and all but two regions. His support base stretches across much of mainland Portugal, reflecting the continued strength of the Socialist Party in both urban centres and large parts of the interior.

Ventura followed in second place with 24%, marking another breakthrough for Chega. The party won outright in two regions and placed second everywhere else, confirming its transformation from a protest movement into a nationwide political force.

Liberal Initiative candidate João Cotrim Figueiredo also secured 16%, placing third in most autonomous regions, while Henrique Gouveia e Melo, running as an independent backed by the conservative PPM, finished with 12%, also claiming third place in several areas.

Neither came close to challenging the two front-runners nationally, underscoring how polarised the race has become.

The upcoming runoff will determine who succeeds President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, whose role, while largely ceremonial, carries significant influence through veto powers and the ability to dissolve parliament.

With Portugal facing economic pressures and broader European uncertainty, the second round is expected to draw sharp contrasts between Seguro’s institutional continuity and Ventura’s populist challenge.

This time, it’s different.

Right now, one of the most visible Americans across Africa isn’t a politician, an athlete, or a pop star. It’s a YouTuber.

IShowSpeed, real name Darren Jason Watkins Jr. has become a constant presence on African timelines, phones, and conversations, not because of a concert tour or a state visit, but because he is livestreaming his way across the continent in real time.

Speed is one of the biggest digital creators in the world . He has more than 48 million subscribers on YouTube, nearly 44 million followers on Instagram, over 46 million on TikTok, and millions more across Facebook and Twitch. Altogether, his audience comfortably passes 100 million people worldwide.

Speed is currently in the middle of Speed Does Africa, a continent-wide livestream journey expected to span about 20 countries. From city streets to local hangouts, he streams everyday life as he encounters it unscripted, unfiltered, and live.

So far, his stops have included Angola, South Africa , Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Morocco and Kenya. In many of these places, crowds have gathered within minutes of his arrival, local media have followed his movements, and livestream clips have spread rapidly online.

In a few countries, the attention has gone beyond social media . Tourism boards and government-linked institutions have publicly reacted to or engaged with conversations around his visit, a sign that what started as internet content is now registering at a national level.

More stops are still expected, including Ghana , Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and others.